I know that it takes months for acne to clear up with hormonal treatments, but should oiliness improve straight away/sooner? Is that a good indicator if a particular treatment is going to work for us? I'm still oily 3 months in... Is it time to try something else?

Thanks that's really helpful! I'll give it a bit longer. I was thinking about trying saw palmetto too in the meantime. Though I guess then I won't know if it's the bc taking effect or the saw palmetto but I kinda just want to get this sorted asap!! Interesting that the generics aren't so good for some people... I don't think I have the option of having the brand because of being in the UK/NHS I might ask though. Thanks again!

Edit: Just read your clear skin story! Really glad you were able to treat your severe acne so effectively. I wish I could take spiro but my Dr wouldn't give it to me because I'm on lithium. I see that saw palmetto was no good for you... I think I'll try it anyway as I've got nothing to lose and have heard some good reports. My acne isn't nodulo-cystic either, but I'd still class it as moderately severe or moderate because it covers so much of my face! Or it did, bp works well for me fortunately but I don't like it and I'd rather get to the root of the problem -and the bp doesn't help with my oil problem which is bad to the point of making me feel indecent if I don't run off to the bathroom to blot my face every hour or so!

Thanks that's really helpful! I'll give it a bit longer. I was thinking about trying saw palmetto too in the meantime. Though I guess then I won't know if it's the bc taking effect or the saw palmetto but I kinda just want to get this sorted asap!! Interesting that the generics aren't so good for some people... I don't think I have the option of having the brand because of being in the UK/NHS I might ask though. Thanks again!

Edit: Just read your clear skin story! Really glad you were able to treat your severe acne so effectively. I wish I could take spiro but my Dr wouldn't give it to me because I'm on lithium. I see that saw palmetto was no good for you... I think I'll try it anyway as I've got nothing to lose and have heard some good reports. My acne isn't nodulo-cystic either, but I'd still class it as moderately severe or moderate because it covers so much of my face! Or it did, bp works well for me fortunately but I don't like it and I'd rather get to the root of the problem -and the bp doesn't help with my oil problem which is bad to the point of making me feel indecent if I don't run off to the bathroom to blot my face every hour or so!

Yeah I didn't see much with saw palmetto, but my acne was quite severe and I wasn't on a high dose. I was only on probably 300mg a day. For women it works better if you're on 600-1000mg a day of saw palmetto.

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Thank you for the dosing info, I was just going to take 320. Have been taking 640 this week, maybe it has helped a tiny bit? I could just be imagining it! And I did add aha back in to my regimen so it's hard to say what causes what - I know you should change one thing at a time but I just want it sorted asap! Then I can work out what did the trick... I read your thread too, very helpful, thank you.